New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-31
I'LL " dR-


but with the exception of the rebellion of sew
oral tribes in Afehanistan and a revolt in
Guatemala. this has been the only warlikc
episode While there have been no battles
there has been series of war pancs on the
Continent and the ornaments Of the military
empires have been materially increased. These
vast armamcuts, for the maintenance OF when
Europe is oycrburdcncd with TAXATION. have
provided statesmen and spectators alike with
the means Of trading upon national lear.
Prince Bismarck became panic-mOngcr III
order to carry the German elections on the
single issue Of increasing the amy by 10000
men for seven instead Of three years. BoulSc
SPECTATORS in Berlin. Paris and Vienna made
free use of his omnOus speeches, which were
intended mainly as clectlonccring devices ana
they were equally successful IN creating wldc-
spread alarm when a French police officer was
arrested and gamckccpcr killed on the Ger
man frontier, and when later in the year there
were nlmpOrtant military manGuvrcS on the
Russian flank of GaliCia. ArmamcntS MAIN
tanned at an annual cost for which campaigns
were fought fifty years ago do not cmancipatc
Europe from panic fear and paralyzlng sense
Of boIlcssncss. Wars aIc avcrtcd. but there
is constant dread of the outbreak of hostlitics
With the weight of war taxation Increasing
wear by wear peace itself seems unrcai-a
fcvcrish pause between campaigns, while ma
tions stand under arms awaiting tho signal
for war.
The contrast between peaceful industrious
America and this European circle Of camps and
barracks. always striking, las been p1Iilcu-
larly noticeable THIS year. The IIr">u! OF
the United States is brlmmlng full wF'I the
Enancicrs of Germany, Russia. Austria. fi3ncc
and Italy are either iabonlg to find nc" sut'ccN
Of revenue or struggling 10 conceal actGi dt-
Gcits. The chief source Of cmba mrnt
here is an unmauag cIlIc surplus which re-
mains after onc-hali of the National debt has
been paid and when the balance commands the
highest premiums The process OF debi-payInG
has been virtually suspended in England by
Mr. GOSchcn'S modification Of the >lnhing-lund
arrangements during the wear, and on the Con
tincnt national debts are steadily Increasing III
volume. Possibly there has been slight I'M
prOyemcnt in the financial situation Of Italy,
but in France the greatest national dcbt ever
known has been accumulated. in Germany new
taxation bills are presented at every session
Of the Rcichstag in RUSSIA public credit has
steadily deprecated and in Austria Hungary
industrial resources are heavily depleted by
war taxation. America is almost the only great
country that is not hopccssy mortgagcd to the
descendants Of its present creditors. Its debt
paving achievements have been uncXampicd
in history. Yet the people hardly know that
they are taxcd-indccd, would not know 1t, II an
American President. frightened by the magni-
tudc Of the countrys prosperity. had not turned
alarmist and headed Il frcc-tradc agitation Tor
a radical revision Of the tariff IN the interest
Of foreign manufacturers and paupcrIzcd labor.
There has been no marked change durng
the year in the trend Of events either IN Europe
or America. Tendencies, political and social.
which had been already disclosed continued to
give form and direction TO the history Of ma
tons. The enforced resignation 81 President
Grcvy and the election Of IA more supple sue
ccssor have demonstrated anew the omnipo-
tcncc Of the French Legislature. body which
by force Of circumstance and in accordance
with the political genius Of the people is grad
ually absorbing all the functions Of govern
mcnt. The Tory Government Is cAhaustlng
one by one the eXpcdlcnts recently employed
by Mr.. Gladstone III supprcSslng the League ia
Ireland by coercion. but must inevitably lall,
rs he did. in the attempt TO reconcile the
island to English law enforced by an English
army Of occupation In Italy and in Germany
the most statcsnamikc Of modern POpcs Is
pursuing with cOnsummatc skill a cOnCllIatory
and successful policy in dealing with
hostile Governments. Brave bulgaria
still escapes the vengeance Of the
relentless Northern Power but only
through the sheer inability of rival dynasticS
to agree upon treaty Of partition Of the sui
tans European possessions. Old forces Of
race nationality and dynasty have been brought
to bear III 1857 very much in 1856, and
have produced corresponding effects. In like
manner the political and social conditions in
America have remained unchanged. The
power Of organized labor steadily declines i'll
consequence Of ill-timcd and il-dmcctcd
strikes a Democratic Congress is still lncom-
potent to act and as mischIcvous in plotting
harm to the industries of the country Il Demo
cratic Administration is even more hostile TO
American interests and in closer sympathy with
the heroes of rebellion than it was last year;
and the triumph Of Rcpuolicanism next year
offers the smcst ground for hope for the pro-
glcss and permanent welfare of the nation.